1) Having a long-time peer that is now standing before me as a management figure shouldn't bother anyone, as long as everyone had an equal opportunity to advance to that position. It is petty if it does bother you. However, its a problem if it is not really an official position. If Triple H, or anyone else, takes it upon himself to be the "lockerroom leader", then he sure as heck better be truly a charismatic leader that everyone honest to goodness looks up to. Because if he's not, then all the speeches in the world are pointless, no matter how right he may or may not be. And he will definitely rub everyone the wrong way (especially when you consider the Steph factor in Triple H's case).

2) Group "pep-talks" are OK. Group ass-chewings usually aren't. And this looks more like an ass-chewing than a pep-talk to me. This is especially bad when its done in a vague, general way, such as the whole "Some people in here do X, Y, Z, when they should be doing A, B, and C." Everyone wonders exactly who "some people" are, rumors start, and its generally just bad for morale. It's not exactly professional to publically call out people anyway, especally in non-specific terms. If they have problems with individuals, they should work with the individual. That way, there is no question what the problem is, and what needs to be done to fix it. Good communication is always a good thing. With recent events, it looks like communication is something WWE needs to work on anyway.

Good, bad or indifferent, there is one thing that confuses me about this situation. Why would WWE post this on their website? What type of spin are they going for on this one? I know the website is relatively "real", i.e. hirings and firings, but in most companies this "pep talk" would be one of those things that would stay within company walls. So what gives.

I just wish/hope someone there responded to this simply by saying "I'd be like you Hunter, but Vince only has the one daughter to bone. And Shane's just not my type."

And no, had the Undertaker given that speech to the locker room I wouldn't have bitched. He's actually been working the last few months, even if sometimes the angles haven't been the best, I at least get a sense from him these days that he realizes he needs to help some other people get over. But when you're being given motivational speeches by a guy who has worked about 5 of the last 15 months, and just happens to be sleeping with the person who is both the head of creative AND the boss's daughter, the words ring a bit hollow, even if he meant every word of them.

Or to look at it another way, and I know the smark haters will love this, if this meeting took place at Raw, he was talking to among others Chris Benoit. Let's look at things from Mr. Benoit's perspective. I just finished an incredibly hard grueling rehab, just like the guy chewing me out did. Upon his return he immediately became the focus of the programming, his return was hyped for weeks, and in fact he was double hyped since first his return interview got weeks of pub, then his first match back was a central theme of Royal Rumble. He was given snazzy music videos designed to show what a warrior he was coming back from a leg injury. And oh yeah, and he was given the main event of Wrestlemania and the World Title 2 months after returning. I, Mr. Benoit made an unannounced surprise return, only to turn heel in my hometown. My first match back was thrown into the middle of a Raw episode with no advance notice in a tag match vs. Spike and Bubba Dudley. I have no direction to my character other than tormenting the Dudleys with Eddy Guerrero. You on the other hand are coincidentally enough being pushed now as the most important man, to the point where the two shows look like they're going to fight over who gets to have you on the show. Now tell me why I, Chris Benoit, should give two sweet shits about what you say?

You never know when you'll meet that special someone... the someone that's mysteriously blind to your flaws. or, you know, stupid enough not to realize that yes, you really are that cynical.

It's frightening how much everything is mirroring the gradual decline of WCW from 1997-2001. I seem to recall Bischoff holding these "pep talks" before shows. One in particular was the one where he said that only "Hogan & Piper draw" when Sting, Flair, DDP, and others who were the fan favorites at the time were in the room.

It's hard to find any substatial reason to defend HHH in this scenario. He has now officially been positioned by the "management" in the back as better than everyone else. He consciously walked into that ring and talked down to his co-workers as if he was better than them and knew more about dedication to the business. Can HHH REALLY back that up?

The points he brings up are all about "dedication", yet you have to consider what he actually brings to the table. HHH may be one of those self-help workaholics that stands backstage watching the monitors attentively from the second he enters the building and orders someone to hand him a monitor till the time the production crew removes everything, but with all of the "effort" HHH "dedicates" to what he does... what do we get out of it? HHH beats up 10 security guards, breaks cameras, and Pedigrees everyone. What the hell kind of dedication is that? You don't have to be the "First man in, Last man out" to do that kind of thing. It's very unrewarding to everyone else. Making yourself look good at the expense of everyone else, especially when you're not all that great, isn't helping anything.

I think what I'm really getting at is the lack of sacrifices HHH has made. Yeah, he finished that match that one time, but he got a really nice video package, return, and the all-important WrestleMania title victory out of the deal. I'm sorry, but getting injured and coming back doesn't warrant that much of a reward. Austin didn't win the title at WMX7 because he came back from that neck injury. He won because he was the best, and came back from a neck injury at the top of his game, unlike HHH.

HHH needs to help elevate someone like Austin did with Angle and The Rock. Only by doing that can he create competition to his spot and, once he proves himself better than the competition - not by having them job to him, but rather outshines them with his talent - can he say that he truly is at the top of his game. Then, he can justify his position a little more.

People play nintendo and cards in their spare time backstage? Hell, in the 80s they were all smoking crack with the Dynamite Kid and getting groupies drunk in the back. I'd say that's a significant improvement. The problem isn't with the workers. It's with Management, and if HHH wants to associate himself as such, then he's a part of the problem, too.

HHH wants everyone to be like him, but unless it's legal for Stephanie to marry multiple suitors, that's just not going to happen.

So, why doesn't HHH "dedicate" himself up some ratings?

...Why DID they post this online for everyone to see anyway?

EDIT: Added some more points about how much better Austin is than HHH.

First of all, Trips didn't name names nor drop innuendo like JR did. And what's not to say that he's not saying the same stuff to the writers too? I don't blame him for protecting his character, seeing how one can get screwed in the business by a crabby storyline or turn of events.

It is posted in aknowledgement to the problems they have.

Yeah, Undertaker should have been teh one delivering the speech. But he had Brock on his mind, while HHH's mind is clear.

Sorry for sounding like a result merchant, but every wrestler performed exceedingly well on Raw last night. So it sunk on some people.

"Business has just picked up" says JR. Then right on cue, Molly enters the arena! Never was JR any better in introducing someone. --Raw 7/15

Hunter aside, I have a problem with them putting this up on WWE.com. I mean CRZ was probably busy so someone else had to sit there and transcribe the whole thing. They keep admitting they have a problem but their "solutions" are pathetic.

"Hey look! The Game bitched everybody out! We got Bishoff! Business is about to pick up, by Gawd!"

(edited by Jackson on 16.7.02 1506)Bubbles? Oh come on Sharon! Iím Ozzy Osbourne the Prince of Fucking Darkness. Evil, evil, more fucking evil not a boatload of fucking bubbles man.

Originally posted by deadbeaterFirst of all, Trips didn't name names nor drop innuendo like JR did. And what's not to say that he's not saying the same stuff to the writers too? I don't blame him for protecting his character, seeing how one can get screwed in the business by a crabby storyline or turn of events.

He dropped names. He dropped his own name, implying that he was in the position to where he could lead by example. By standing in that ring and talking down to everyone, he was putting himself up as the standard by which all performers must be judged. I don't know who's idea this was, but I don't think HHH is the guy people in the back will want to listen to.

Protecting your character is one thing. Hogan did it in WCW and I hated him for it, yet I can certainly see his point of view. The same applies to HHH. Ultimately, it's management that takes the blame. Vince is allowing his daughter to push her boyfriend as the top star in the company, when it will ultimately result in the same thing that happened when Bischoff promoted his bestest buddy in the whole world Hogan.

It is posted in aknowledgement to the problems they have.

Yeah, Undertaker should have been teh one delivering the speech. But he had Brock on his mind, while HHH's mind is clear.

I realize that they wanted to have one of "the boys" give a pep talk to everyone, but this speech is going to do more harm than good for morale, which will ultimately affect that we see on television. I see this going in the same direction as Bischoff's speeches, which even resulted in walk-outs.

Sorry for sounding like a result merchant, but every wrestler performed exceedingly well on Raw last night. So it sunk on some people.

Think about this in a longterm sense, though. They may have been intimidated into not messing up for one night, but it won't last. The workers need better motivation, which will ultimately come from management doing positive things, such as looking to new ways to draw the fans to the workers who are performing well. Workers like Chris Benoit aren't being rewarded for what they have to offer the current product, yet they continue to do what they do, then they get talked down to because of it.

Originally posted by SKLOKAZOID...when it will ultimately result in the same thing that happened when Bischoff promoted his bestest buddy in the whole world Hogan.

Think about this in a longterm sense, though. They may have been intimidated into not messing up for one night, but it won't last. The workers need better motivation, which will ultimately come from management doing positive things, such as looking to new ways to draw the fans to the workers who are performing well. Workers like Chris Benoit aren't being rewarded for what they have to offer the current product, yet they continue to do what they do, then they get talked down to because of it.

And that's the bottom line. If you have 'one of the boys' deliver that speech, it doesn't mean a damn thing, except that everyone else is obvoiusly knocked down one or more rungs on the main event ladder.

Bad management (and I include HHH in that category, like a player-manager) comes down on the employees when things look dire - many of us have experienced this with the edicts "No more company lunches", then "No more free sodas", and the very dire "Cut back on office supplies" message. When the boss starts getting on to the help for doing their job, dark days are ahead, because they aren't looking in the right place for the problems ("No more first class travel", "No more executive retreats", "No more vague business plans", and "No more screw-up VPs").

How are the actions of the wrestlers different from the professional athletes of today? They get their 3-4 hours in the gym each day, and then sit in the locker room, playing video games or cards, relaxing before the game. The fact that they have NO SAY over the outcome of their "game" or the long-term viability of their persona would probably make them care even less about what is happening with the big picture. I would be sitting there thinking "As long as I pull of my 37 1/2 moves in this match without flubbing them, and speak my lines without stuttering, I've got my paycheck. By 1:15 into the show, I've hit the showers, I'm out of the arena and I am at the local bar, picking up groupies, or lighting up a fattie in the hotel." They don't have to tell a story in the ring, they won't ever get called up to the last :45 unless there's an emergency, and even if they DO get a little 'push', you can guaran-damn-tee that they will be sitting back in front of a locker on the visitor's side in less than six months. There will be more apathy and less incentive because there's NO WHERE ELSE TO GO (sorry, Mr. Jarrett). They can't move to greener pastures because there aren't any. Only the handful that have the physical ability and crazy-ass desire to beat the hell out of their bodies and have a love for true RUTHLESS AGGRESSION will be intrigued by the matches the competition is putting on. Did anyone one ever defect to ECW from WWF because they wanted to 'build their character' or 'wrestle with integrity'? The money's too good now that they are wrestling four days a week instead of six... Why would they leave, and why would they care about what the brass are doing?

Originally posted by TheBucsFanYou're ight, but not for any of the reason's you mentioned. It's a problem because it puts one wrestler above all the rest. Though, if anything, Triple H should carry MORE responsibility than anyone else on the roster because since the shows starting going sour he has been the guy shows have been based around most often now that Austin's gone, Rock's hardly been here, and most other guys haven't really been main eventers. You call him a leader, I call him a coward who can't take responsibility and accountability when he should. And it's not just Triple H, I would say that about anyone who tried to give this "pep talk".

Well, I'd say getting up in front of the talent and taking the position of leader, deserved or not, is "taking responsibility and accountability". Putting yourself into a leadership role makes you responsible, in no small way, for the people you're leading. The "locker room leaders", whether they admit it, know it, or not, are important factors in keeping the talent happy in times like this.

Look at it this way. Who were the "leaders" in WCW? I never heard anything even remotely similar about people behind the scenes there as I do about the WWF/E. If anything, it was the opposite, the veteran talent being standoffish and self-absorbed. And look what happened. The place self-destructed, it got to the point where morale was low enough that people walked out given half the chance. People who *love* the wrestling business hated coming to work. The only time I heard of any sort of "pep talk" was Bischoff's "if you want, you can leave". It was a dictate handed down from a management that was obviously out of touch with its employees.

Now, if the locker room is as bad off as the prophets of doom want it to sound, what good would hearing from the people who obviously have no idea what's going on do? Better it be someone in a position that might still have some glimmer of respect.

Once again, I don't think HHH was the best choice. And no, I don't think he handled it as well as he should have. But he did SOMETHING, and I'll still give him kudos for that. He made a mistake, using himself as an example, but the idea behind it was worth saying. They can't afford to make the same mistakes that were made with WCW, and one of those mistakes was letting morale sink to that low a point.

Kansas-born and deeply ashamedThe last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!

Originally posted by Nate The SnakeWell, I'd say getting up in front of the talent and taking the position of leader, deserved or not, is "taking responsibility and accountability".

No it's not. It's putting the responsibility on a group of people right after you have seperated yourself from that group.

I think you're looking at a different definition of "leader" than I am. And we won't know which one HHH is using until after, god forbid, something awful happens and he either takes his share of the blame as a leader should or blows it off like you, and the HHH-as-Satan crew, seem to want him to.

Kansas-born and deeply ashamedThe last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!

I never called Triple H a leader, and I also said this is not because its Triple H doing the speaking. He's not a leader for doing this, and no wrestler needs to be standing up telling other wrestlers what they need to do better on the behalf of management.

Originally posted by TheBucsFanI never called Triple H a leader, and I also said this is not because its Triple H doing the speaking. He's not a leader for doing this, and no wrestler needs to be standing up telling other wrestlers what they need to do better on the behalf of management.

Then who should? If the people in positions of respect in the locker room aren't the ones who should be addressing morale in a situation where it's not appropriate (YET) for Big Boss Vince to step in, then who is? The camera crew?

Nowhere did HHH state that he was speaking on anyone's behalf. Looked to me like the agents had already said their part before he started talking. HHH was putting the problem into his own (biased, and rather inappropriately self-promoting) perspective. He was agreeing with them, yes. But if he hadn't gone out of his way to say "unlike me" all this would've been is a "hey guys, I'm seeing some bad stuff going on, let's try and fix it" speech. And there's nothing inappropriate about that sort of thing.

Kansas-born and deeply ashamedThe last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!

Originally posted by Nate The SnakeIf the people in positions of respect in the locker room aren't the ones who should be addressing morale in a situation where it's not appropriate (YET) for Big Boss Vince to step in, then who is?

Why is it not appropriate for Vince to insert himself into the situation, or Jim Ross, or Shane, any other big shot from Connecticut?

Originally posted by Nate The SnakeNowhere did HHH state that he was speaking on anyone's behalf.

So you expect him to specifically say "Guys, I'm not one of you now, I'm better than you."?

Originally posted by Nate The SnakeIf the people in positions of respect in the locker room aren't the ones who should be addressing morale in a situation where it's not appropriate (YET) for Big Boss Vince to step in, then who is?

Why is it not appropriate for Vince to insert himself into the situation, or Jim Ross, or Shane, any other big shot from Connecticut?

Originally posted by Nate The SnakeNowhere did HHH state that he was speaking on anyone's behalf.

So you expect him to specifically say "Guys, I'm not one of you now, I'm better than you."?

Vince shouldn't need to step in every time there's grumbling backstage. That's why they have a "talent relations" department in the first place. If your accounting staff is pissed off, do you expect the CEO himself to come down and say something? No, that's what middle management is for. And as I said earlier, I think JR should have been there, but if he's trying to let the agents have more responsibility it's understandable that he wasn't.

And, though you didn't bother to quote it, I said it wasn't really appropriate that he use himself as an example so blatantly. I've never implied that it was. If you're going to get in front of a group of fellow employees and say "hey, I'm seeing some problems that I think we can work on" you don't follow it with "not that I personally have one, mind you." Any "separation" comes from a bad choice of words in the speech, not the act of making the speech itself.

Kansas-born and deeply ashamedThe last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!